Patent EA-002198-B1 (EA)
Title: Replaceable sleeve
Inventor: LANE WILLIAM JAMES III
IPC: F16L55/17
Filed: 1998-01-15
Abstract: 1. A replaceable sleeve adapted to be mounted on a carrier comprising: a) an inner polymeric layer; b) a reinforcing layer overlying said inner layer; c) an intermediate polymeric layer overlying said reinforcing layer; and d) an outer polymeric layer forming a working surface; wherein said inner polymeric layer has a Shore A hardness which is equal to or greater than the Shore A hardness of said intermediate and outer polymeric layers. 2. The replaceable sleeve claim 1 further including a cushion layer between said intermediate layer and said outer layer. 3. The replaceable sleeve of claim 1 in which said layers have been cured in a single vulcanizing step. 4. The replaceable sleeve of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is seamless. 5. The replaceable sleeve of claim 1 in which said inner layer, said intermediate layer, and said outer layer are comprised of materials selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, EPDM rubber, natural rubber, synthetic rubber, neoprene rubber, blends of nitrile rubber and polyvinyl chloride, and polyurethane. 6. The replaceable sleeve of claim 1 in which said inner layer comprises a carboxylated nitrile-butadiene copolymer. 7. The replaceable sleeve of claim 1 in which said inner layer, said intermediate layer and said outer layer have a Shore A durometer hardness of from about 20 to 90. 8. The replaceable sleeve of claim 1 in which said inner layer has a Shore A durometer hardness of at least about 70. 9. The replaceable sleeve of claim 1 in which said reinforcing layer is comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of polyester, cotton, fiberglass, cottonwrapped polyester, rayon, carbon filaments, and other high modulus synthetic or organic fibers. 10. The replaceable sleeve of claim 2 in which said cushion layer comprises an open or closed-cell polymeric foam. 11. The replaceable sleeve of claim 2 in which said cushion layer comprises a polymer having a Shore A durometer hardness of from about 25 to 45. 12. The replaceable sleeve of claim 1 in which each of said layers has a thickness of from about 0127 to 1.905 cm. 13. A method of making a replaceable sleeve adapted to be mounted on a carrier comprising the steps of: forming an inner polymeric layer in a cylindrical shape; mounting said inner layer onto a support; applying a reinforcing layer over the outer surface of said inner layer; applying an intermediate polymeric layer over the outer surface of said reinforcing layer; applying an outer polymeric layer over the outer surface of said intermediate polymeric layer; and curing said layers to form said sleeve. 14. The method of claim 13 including the step of applying a cushion layer over the outer surface of said intermediate polymeric layer prior to applying said outer polymeric layer. 15. The method of claim 13 in which said layers are cured at a temperature of between about 140 degree C to 154 degree C). 16. The method of claim 13 in which said inner layer, said intermediate layer, and said outer layer are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of butyl rubber, nitrile rubber, EPDM rubber, natural rubber, synthetic neoprene rubber, a blend of nitrile rubber and polyvinyl chloride, and polyurethane. 17. The method of claim 13 in which said inner layer, said intermediate layer and said outer layer have a Shore A durometer hardness of from about 20 to 90. 18. The method of claim 13 in which said inner layer has a Shore A durometer hardness of at least about 70. 19. In combination, a replaceable sleeve and carrier of claim 1.